ainsworth



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model H. A. AINSWORTH.

GOAL GHUTE. No. 498,419. Patented May 30, 1893.y

(No Model.) 2 ShQets-Sheet 2.

' El. A. AINSWORTH.

GOAL CHUTE.

No. 498,419. Patented May so, 1893.

lllllllllllllllll I UNITED STATESl PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY A. AINSWORTH, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE VILLIAMS,

` WHITE da COMPANY.

COAL-CH UTE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 498,419, dated May 30, 1893.

n Application filed April 8, 1893. Serial No. 469,56'7. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: f

Be it known that I, HENRY A. AINSWORTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Moline, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coal-Chutes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to coal chutes and comprises a novel means of holding the door thereof both closed and open.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side view of my improved chute with the apron down or open; and Fig. 2, a similar view with the door closed and the apron thrown up out of the way,-the apron being shown in section; Fig. 3, a front face View showing the chute thrown down and the door open; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the combined guide and stop.

A indicates the framework or casing in which the chute is built, and B the door hinged at its upper end to said frame and adapted to cover the mouth of the chute and prevent the escape of the coal except when the said door is released.

C indicates the apron hinged to the framework at the mouth of the chute, and adapted, when opened or Iswung down, to form as it were a continuation of the iioor @f the chute. This apron has on one or both sides, preferably both, a rearwardly-extending arm D, which as shown in Fig. l, is provided on its upper edge with notches, or with ratchet teeth a which are preferably formed on a metal plate to be fastened to the arm.

Secured to the door B on one or both sides or edges (preferably both) is a latch E which is provided near its front end with a notch c, to engage a fixed stop or projection d on the framework or other xed part, the construction and arrangement being such that when the door is closed as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, the latch by engaging the stop will hold the door closed against the pressure of the coal in the chute. The rearl end of the latch is always in position to be acted upon by the arms D of the apron to release the said latch from engagement with its stop, and also to be engaged with said latch and thereby hold the door in its open position. To positively insure this actuation of the latch, its

the rear end of the latch will be raised so high that it will be necessary to bring the apron down to practically its lowermost position before its arms can release the latches. This results in preventing a premature release of the door and discharge of the coal. This latch works between two vertical guide bars e e secured at their upper ends to the upright post .I and extending rearwardly therefrom. These bars which are separated from each other slightly are connected at their lower ends by abarf which latter is connected at its forward end to the post. The rear -end of this bar f, connected to the bars e e, forms the stop d before referred to, and with which the latch engages. lVhen the door is closed, the latch E holds the door closed, by reason of the engagement of the notch c and stop d; and it will also be noticed, upon reference to that, when the'loor is closed and the apron swung up into its closed position, its arms D are thrown from beneath the latch, and assume a nearly Vertical position. The apron may be held in its closed position, if desired, by

means of the bolt L and keeper M shown in Figs. l and 2, but this is not essential. Now when the apron is swung down the arm D strikes the rear end of the latch E and raises Y the latter up off the s top CZ and allows the coal in the chute to carry the door to its open position. After the apron has been swung down to its proper position, the door is held in its open position by means of the engagement of the rear end ot' the latch with the notches or ratchet teeth d on the arms D. I prefer to provide the door B with two latches E, but this'is not essential.

Heretofore, where there has been nothing to limit the distance to which the door could swing open, the coal rushed from the chute and shot over the side of the tender, and to obviate the difliculty, I provide the latches E with adjustable stops or blocks g which when the door is swung open by the force of the IOO By making the latch E curved as shown, al shorter and consequently stiffer guide may be employed.

Another advantage of the present construction resides in the fact that the latch and its stop are not covered by the door, thus enabling the operator or attendant to see whether or not the door is properly fastened.

The weights I which are applied to the rearwardly-extending arms of the apron tocounterbalance the latter, are made in two sections which embrace the arms and which are held 1 in place by bolts.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl. In combination with a coal chute, ahin ged door B covering the opening thereof, and pro-' vided with a latch E having notch c; a stop d; and a hinged apron C provided with the rearward extending arm D having notch a, said latch being arranged in the path of the said arm, all substantially as shown and `det 1 nected at their outer ends to the framework.

scribed.

2. AIn combination with a coalchute and a hingeddoor therefor; a latch carried by the door to hold the door closed.; an apron provided with an arm fto act directly upon the` latch to release it and allow the door to open, 2 and -means upon the arms to `be engaged `by the latch to assist 'the latch in holding the door open, substantially as shown and described.

3. In combination with a coal chute and a hinged door therefor; a curved latch E car ried by the door, and means for releasing the latch.

4. In combination with a coal chute and a hinged door B therefor; a latch E carried by the door, and having stop g for limiting the outward swing of the door and independent means for holding the door in its open position.

5. In combination with a coal chute and a` hinged door B therefor; a latch E carried by the'door; an adjustable stop g for limiting the outward swing of the door; and means for releasing the latch .and `also for holding `the door in Aits open position.

G. In combination with achute and a=hinged door therefor; a 'latch for .the door, theih'inged apron provided "with arms D; and "a `divided Weight applied to the arms.

7. In combination with achute and ahinged door therefor; a latch E for fthe door; and a guide comprising the separated bars e e and stop bar f, the said barse e and f lbeing se cured together at their inner ends, and con- In Witnesswhereof I hereunto set my `lha-nd in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY A. AINSWORTH.

Witnesses:

JULIA A. ENTRIKIN, W. J. ENTRIKIN. 

